NiSource stock gains after deal to sell about 20% stake in Nipsco for $2.2 billion to Blackstone

Shares of NiSource Inc.
NI,
-0.20%
rose 0.4% toward a one-month high in premarket trading Tuesday, after the Indiana-based gas and electric utility announced an agreement to sell 19.9% of its Nipsco business to Blackstone Inc.
BX,
-0.41%
for $2.15 billion. NiSource plans to use the proceeds from the sale of a minority stake in the natural gas and electric company to pay down debt and fund capital needs related to the renewable generation transition. The deal, which is expected to close by the end of the year, implies an equity value of $10.8 billion for Nipsco. NiSource its adjusted earnings-per-share outlook of $1.54 to $1.60. NiSource’s stock has slipped 0.2% year to date through Friday while Blackstone shaves have climbed 22.8% and the S&P 500
SPX,
-0.49%
has advanced 14.9%.